Functioning pituitary adenomas in pregnancy: updates and controversies

Fertility and pregnancy in women with functioning pituitary adenomas are often compromised. Advances in surgical, medical and multidisciplinary care have improved outcomes, although important uncertainties remain regarding management before, during, and after pregnancy.

Recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have provided updated evidence on pregnancy outcomes in women with prolactinomas, acromegaly, and Cushing's disease. Although medical therapy is used selectively during pregnancy, studies of cabergoline and bromocriptine have consistently demonstrated overall maternal and fetal safety. Favorable surgical prolactinoma outcomes in specialized centers have led to evolving recommendations, with surgery increasingly considered an alternative to traditional dopamine agonist therapy for selected patients.

Owing to the relative rarity of functioning pituitary adenomas in pregnancy, current clinical practice and guidelines rely largely on limited retrospective evidence regarding the disease course and outcomes. Although new medical therapies for acromegaly and Cushing's disease are now available, data to support their use in pregnancy are lacking. Management therefore remains individualized and emphasizes shared decision-making.